The Road Home

Plot

City businessman Luo Yusheng returns to his home village in North China for the funeral of his father, the village teacher. He finds his elderly mother insisting that all the traditional burial customs be observed, despite the fact that times have changed so much, and that it involves many people carrying his father's body back to the village - the road home. As Yusheng debates the complications involved in organising such a big feat, he remembers the magical story of how his father and mother first met and got together.

Why watch

"The Road Home" is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the enduring weight of tradition, beautifully captured through Zhang Yimou's lush cinematography. This film invites viewers to reflect on the ties that bind us to our past and the bittersweet nature of nostalgia.

Talking points

• the role of tradition in modern life
• the impact of memory on identity
• the complexities of familial relationships
• the tension between past and present

Cultural context

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